I'm sure that by now, most of you have heard about the Toyota recalls that have been in the news in the past couple of weeks. And if you haven't been paying attention to the story, you should be. So far, over 5 million vehicles have been recalled, and the defective cars have been linked to at least five deaths.

The accidents caused by the recalled cars are extremely serious – faulty floor mats and sticking gas pedals may lead to spontaneous runaway acceleration, and some cars have crashed while going over 100 mph. Here are the models that are affected by the recalls:

Floor mat recall: 2007-2010 Camry 2005-2010 Avalon 2004-2009 Prius 2005-2010 Tacoma 2007-2010 Tundra 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 & 350 2008-2010 Highlander 2009-2010 Corolla 2009-2010 Venza 2009-2010 Matrix 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

Gas pedal recall: 2007-2008 Tundra 2008-2010 Sequoia 2005-2010 Avalon 2007-2010 Camry 2009-2010 Corolla 2009-2010 Matrix 2009-2010 RAV4 2010 Highlander 2009-2010 Vibe

The company says that repairs will begin immediately and that dealerships will stay open around the clock to complete them.

Federal investigators aren't as confident in the plan. The Department of Transportation said it will continue to investigate consumer reports that some type of electronic malfunction or computer glitch may also be involved. Hopefully, though, Toyota really has found a way to fix the deadly defect and no other drivers will be affected.

My law firm is staying on top of the latest information on this story, so please check out the Toyota recall section of our website for updates if you'd like to know more, including what to do if your car is affected.

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If you're a driver in Pittsburgh, then I'm sure you've noticed that many of our roadways are undergoing one type of construction or another in an effort to improve road safety. That effort is definitely commendable, but you should be aware that work zones can be just as dangerous as poorly maintained roads.

In 2008, about 1,415 work zone crashes occurred across Pennsylvania, and about 85 percent of those killed were motorists. That’s startling enough, but what's more alarming is that many of the accidents that occur in construction zones are due to poor safety regulations.

The hazards in road construction zones are abundant – improperly positioned concrete barriers, incorrect lane markings, unused warning signs, and road drop-offs just to name a few – yet there are virtually no federal laws regulating safety measures in work zones.

It’s the responsibility of individual states to maintain all roads. However, most of the work zone laws in place in Pennsylvania focus on driver regulation, like speed control, headlight use, and increased fines, even though many accidents are caused by poor work zone maintenance on the part of construction companies.

Remember, roadway hazards can be anywhere, so please drive safely and keep your eyes on the road.

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A new development was announced today in the ever-growing discussion of cell phone use and driving. The U.S. Transportation Secretary said that effective immediately, the drivers of commercial trucks and buses are banned from texting behind the wheel.

Here's how the Department of Transportation defines a commercial motor vehicle (CMV):

• Any vehicle that weighs 10,001 pounds or more
• Any vehicle that is transporting hazardous materials
• Any vehicle designed or used to carry 9 or more people, including the driver, for compensation
• Any vehicle designed or used to carry 16 or more people, including the driver, not for compensation

If people driving a CMV don't refrain from texting while driving, they could face civil or criminal penalties up to $2,750.

Our law firm has a tremendous amount of respect for truckers – we know how hard the work is and how long the hours are. We also know how important it is for all drivers, not just truckers, to follow the rules of the road. This means obeying every law – from speeding to passing to texting – to keep everyone as safe as possible. No text message is worth the lives that distracted driving can claim.

I encourage you to check my law firm's complete list of state-by-state cell phone and driving laws. I also urge to be extremely careful on the roads – keep in mind that even if your state doesn't ban cell phone use behind the wheel, going above and beyond the guidelines of the law is always a safe bet.

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If any of you have been following the BPA (Bisphenol A) discussions going on in the news, you might be interested in a recent announcement by the FDA. In a departure from its previous stance that BPA poses no health risks, the agency is now saying parents should try and minimize infants' exposure to the chemical.

Here's a little background on BPA:

• In 2007, a National Institutes of Health panel determined that there was "some concern" about BPA's effects on fetal and infant brain development and behavior. A 2008 report by the National Toxicology Program agreed with the panel's findings. Subsequent animal studies found that BPA can have adverse effects on the nervous system, thyroid function, the reproductive system, and can lead to some types of cancer.
• The first results from human studies were published in 2008. Researchers found that higher BPA levels were strongly associated with heart disease, diabetes, and abnormally high levels of certain liver enzymes. A later similar study performed by the same group of scientists was published in January 2010. It confirmed, despite lower concentrations of BPA in the second study sample, an increased risk for heart disease but not for diabetes or liver enzymes.

There hasn't been an official federal policy on BPA in the US, but a number of retailers and local governments have taken action. Toys 'R' Us and Wal-Mart both announced that they would remove all baby bottles containing BPA from their inventories.  In May 2009, Minnesota and Chicago became some of the first jurisdictions to pass legislation banning the chemical. The next month, Connecticut became the first state to ban Bisphenol A from infant formula and baby food containers, as well from any reusable food or beverage container.

As more information becomes available on BPA's side effects, it will be interesting to see how the federal government responds. We can only hope that officials will do what's necessary to protect consumers' safety. If you'd like more information, including how to help protect your children from exposure, you can check out this BPA news article on my firm's website.

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Attention Pennsylvania drivers – our state has the sixth worst driver safety legislation in the country. This is according to the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS), which reports that PA has enacted less than half of the model laws they consider essential for safe roads. At my law firm we're all too familiar with the tragic consequences of traffic accidents, so I'd like to think that our lawmakers are doing everything in their power to make the roads as safe as possible. However, according to the AHAS, insufficient texting, booster seat, and drunk driving laws are only some of the deficiencies present in our state laws.

There are currently several pieces of pending legislation that would address some of the issues uncovered by the advocacy organization, and hopefully these measures will pass soon. If you'd like to learn more about the dangers on Pennsylvania's roads, please check out this news story on my firm's site.

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The Erie Times News has an article that I think is a good, though often overlooked, safety issue: the dangers of sled riding.  Although sled riding is a popular activity that seems relatively safe, more than 160,000 people were hurt in sled riding-related activities in 2007, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Most sledding mishaps are minor, but local emergency rooms have treated some serious concussions and spinal injuries resulting from sledding accidents in recent years. To reduce the risk of injury here are several tips for safe sled riding:

• Avoid hills that have a street or body of water near the bottom. If you go too fast you could end up in the roadway or the water.
• Check for and avoid any sledding hill that has trees, posts, fences or other obstacles in its path.
• Choose a sled that you can steer instead of discs, inner tubes, and toboggans. Don't use plastic sheets that can be punctured by objects on the ground.
  
• Do NOT sled head-first down a hill. You should be seated and facing forward so you can steer and so your head isn't the first thing to make contact in a collision.
  
• When climbing back up a hill, be alert and on the lookout for oncoming sled riders who may not be able to steer their sleds.
  
• Consider using a helmet for children riding particularly fast sleds.
  
• Younger children should always be supervised by an adult.
  
• Sled at night only in well-lighted areas.
  
• Do NOT drink alcohol before sledding as it makes you more susceptible to the cold and leads to bad decisions.

Remember, have fun and stay safe as you enjoy the winter weather!

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I've been posting a lot of information on keeping sidewalks safe, but I'd also like to issue a reminder about the dangers of the road during the winter months. Winter weather has officially set in, and the icy road conditions have played a part in multiple accidents, some fatal, across western Pennsylvania.

The best thing to do in icy weather is avoid driving, but of course that isn't always an option. If you do have to drive, here are a few things to be aware of:

• Driving too fast for the road conditions is one of the main causes of weather-related accidents, so it's important to slow down even if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• Using headlights and making sure to clear snow from your vehicle can also help to reduce the risk of a weather-related accident.
• Clear the roof of your vehicle in addition to the windows, mirrors, and lights so that snow can't slide down your windshield and impair your vision.
• Finally, simple things like braking gently and leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front of you can reduce skidding and allow more time to react should you lose control.

For more information and additional safety tips, check out one of my previous blog posts on winter driving safety and on winterizing your car.

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We're in the midst of some serious winter weather, and in addition to traveling safely and staying warm, there's another concern that should be on your radar: keeping your walkways clear.

Although this may sound simple, municipalities have their own ordinances that must be followed. In the city of Pittsburgh, for example, you have 24 hours to clear away snow and ice. If you don't clear public pathways in that time and are reported to the city, you may receive a citation and face fines.

Be aware, however, that this ordinance doesn't mean you can always wait 24 hours to shovel and salt your sidewalks - the city of Pittsburgh expects walkways to be cleared in a "reasonable" amount of time. This means that if you had plenty of time to get rid of ice and snow before 24 hours was up but didn't, you can still be held liable for any injuries that occur on your property.

Here's more information you need to know about the removing snow and ice:

Homeowners

• If you're a homeowner, you are responsible for any injuries on your property that result from snow and ice.
• Your homeowner's insurance will cover the costs of injuries that happen to you or anyone hurt on your property up to your policy limits. You are held directly responsible for any costs that exceed your coverage limit.

Renters

• If you rent or lease a single family home, you're responsible for taking care of snow and ice.
• If you live in an apartment complex with multiple rental units, your landlord or property management company is responsible for taking care of snow and ice.
• If you live in a two or three unit property, liability is a little more complicated – you may or may not be held accountable depending on other circumstances. Your best bet is to be safe and keep your walkways clean.
• Make sure you check your rental agreement to find out your landlord's policy on snow and ice removal.

If you'd like more information on snow and ice removal, you can check out my firm's website and this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

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